I finally made my way out to Stonehenge. When I first moved here I purchased a Living social deal for a tour to Stonehenge and Bath. However, each time we tried to plan the trip, the tour company was overbooked or something would come up. On March 10th we had success.
I’m going to be honest, I don’t know a whole heck of a lot about Stonehenge. And after listening to our guide, I’m not alone. For some reason though, I’ve always wanted to see it. Our guide told us that about 900,000 people visit each year. Stonehenge is located north of Salisbury. It is believed that it was erected from 3000BCE to 2000BCE. In 1986 it was added to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
I hope you enjoy the photos. And if you have your own theory about it I would love to hear it. Just remember this is a family friendly blog 🙂
If you make it out there, you won’t be alone. Please expect crowds.
The views around Stonehenge.
50 Year Project 
I was very disappointed because of the crowds and the location. I don’t think it is what it used to be anymore. Like Carnac in Britany which used to be such a special place as well. The magic is gone there too.
Not sure what type of comment you were expecting that made you mention the family friendliness of your blog. 🙂
It was cool to see, but I spent more time trying to get a view because of all the people that kinda took the special aspect away. I went on a Saturday so that may have been part of the problem.
And considering the type of spam I get, I just wanted to be clear about the comments 🙂
I get the same spam… But it’s always caught. I didn’t have to change to commen moderation.
Some of my spam wasn’t going into the right folder. I don’t want to offend anyone.
Great photos! My son will be visiting Stonehenge and Bath when he goes to England and Scotland in May. I am very, very envious of him!! I can’t wait for him to wake up this morning so I can show him your pictures. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oh he’ll have a great time. Does he like Rugby? I learned that Bath has a very good Rugby team. I hope he likes the photos.
You lucky fish! It’s on my bucket list… 🙂
I’ve never been called a lucky fish before. I like that.
I have always wanted to visit… hopefully some day!!! 🙂 **
I hope you do!
Did you get any sense of atmosphere there? This is the sort of place I’d like to visit, but I’d be put off by the number of other visitors, a bit like going to Macchu Picchu or the Taj Mahal.
I enjoyed seeing it. I don’t think I felt connected to it, but I was in awe to finally see it in person. The crowds were overwhelming at times. We got there earlier in the day. I can’t imagine what it looks like after noon. It isn’t a place that I would rush back out to see again. Hopefully that answered your question.
Macchu Picchu and Taj Mahal are on my list!
We went in late December on a very cold day and the crowds were not bad at all. (H’mm wonder why). I also think, if you have the time and the money, doing one of the after hours sunset tours could make it feel more “real”. But like so many of the World heritage Sites, “The Acropolis”, “Copan” etc. it has been so plastic wrapped for protection and so advertised as a “must see”, that the magic is gone…In words taken from a different context…”we had to destroy the village to save it.”
I did consider the sunset tour and when we have visitors who want to see it, we may go that route. I tried going in December but it never worked out. But winter has been so mild this year I don’t know if it would have helped.
Is it my imagination or was it closed to the general public for a good while? Because of vandalism? I heard only the Druids were allowed really close.
Think I’d be put off more by the main road running right by it.
As for the less pc associations, we had a Druid marry us and she was a little hesitant about marrying us in May because its the Beltane – when all the ‘fertility rituals’ traditionally took place 😉 I told her we’d be fine!
I remember hearing that it was vandalized in 2008 when someone took a hammer to it to chip away a piece. That saddens me that someone could be so selfish. But I don’t know if it was closed. Many decades ago, according to our guide, you could camp right there and hang out.
That is pretty cool that you were married by a Druid. Glad it all worked out 🙂
We wanted an outdoor ceremony, and we’re not really religious – more spiritual I guess, and she was the only one that could do it for us.
Outdoor weddings aren’t considered legal in Northern Ireland no matter what the case so we thought we might as well have a service we liked!
(we had to go to the registry office the day before to do the boring paperwork)
I had no idea that outdoor weddings aren’t legal in Northern Ireland. That’s interesting. And yes, it is your wedding, you might as well do it the way you want. You are the only person I know who was married by a druid…that’s cool!
I love your photographs. They allow me to see and visit places I would never be able to see plus have someone to give their personal narrative about it. I take a lot of pictures in a story book format because when I show them I want people to get a feeling about everything that is going on around the specific event or thing of my focal point. So the crowd, the fields and the road. I do the same thing. Thank you for sharing.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
I’m glad you liked them. I try to give a sense of what the area is like. I’ll have to keep your story book format in mind for future trips. I like how you put that.
We were there 4 years ago and I thought the Brits had done a great job in that one can actually view the stonehenge without getting a lot of tourist clutter and schtick, high rises and a lot of people in view, as your first photos show. My husband had been there when he was much younger, when one could still wander in among and around the stones, but,.like I said, he was MUCH younger, read as ‘long time ago’. I’m glad we made the stop.
I am really glad that we went. It is something to see. It would be really sad if there were a bunch of buildings surrounding it. I’m jealous that your husband was able to really stroll around it. I understand why it is blocked off now, but it would have been cool to get closer.
First, I missed my UK days… I was very near to them, in Devizes… Oh dear TBM, you should visit there too, especially the village Lacock and you can stay in my friends’ quest house, you will see on my home page, my second home….
Second, I loved these photographs… The crowded people showing us how great these stones…
Third, the green fields, and forests, hilss what I love so much in this country
Four, the dog and man… I loved so much
Five, I love your camera and to see the world from your eyes… Thank you so much for this voyage through your photographs… Memories came up in my mind.
Have a nice day, with my love, nia
Thanks Nia! I haven’t heard of Lacock and Devizes. I’ll have to look into a visit there. It would be fun to stay with your friend at her guest house. Thanks for the suggestions!
you can check my other blog (My England) I posted all my UK travel… you will find Lacock too…and Devizes circle crops… Lacock it is veery interesting village and so famous… you will remember I am sure you heard… You are welcome and Thanks, with my love, nia
I’ll have to check it out. I remember that you loved it here. I’ll have to refresh my memory of the places you’ve mentioned. Thanks Nia
When we were there in the late 1990s, Stonehenge was surrounded by unattractive fencing and you couldn’t get very close. We went to Avebury Henge, which was beautiful too. You could walk all around the stones and it wasn’t overrun with tourists. That said, Stonehenge is an amazing feat.
Did you make it to Bath? The Roman baths are so beautiful and town is lovely.
We did go to Bath and saw the Roman Baths. I’ll try to have my pictures up tomorrow. I haven’t been to Avebury Henge yet. I would like to get a little closer so that sounds like a good option. Now they have a rope blocking off Stonehenge. I completely understand why they have to block them off. Not everyone behaves and ruins it for the rest of us.
Reblogged this on All About Travel.
Thanks
Cool! I have never been there but would love to see it!
If you can I suggest it. It was fun to see.
Have to put that one on the back burner for now….too many places and too little time, right! But it would be a cool place to go with the kids someday!
I’ve always wanted to see Stonehenge. Thanks for the pics. I don’t know anything about it either but it fascinates me.
I think it’s more fun not knowing what it is really for. I love a good mystery. I hope you get to see it some day!
I’ve always wanted to go to Stonehenge! A co-worker visited years ago and brought back little individually wrapped Stonehenge pillar chocolates. I thought that was a pretty good sign that it would be very touristy. 😉
There is a small gift shop there with a bunch of trinkets. I collect patches for my backpack so I picked one up. Now I’m wishing I got some chocolate 🙂
Fascinating and mysterious structures! I don’t have anything to add, only that I would like to see them someday.
I hope you get to see them!
I think it’s wonderful how you’re getting out and about and seeing all these magical places in your new home country. I’m proud of you! People can live in a place for years and never see the depth of history that is right at their fingertips.
Thanks! I felt bad when I left Boston since there was so much I didn’t get to see. I’m trying to avoid this guilty feeling.
Holy crap, what a crowd of people! But I love the photos, I wish I were there 😀 Here the rough draft of it again 😉
http://wolke205.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/wordless-3/
Hugs, take care 🙂
I forgot about your rough draft. Thanks for reminding me. That is funny!
Sadly with places like Stonehenge you have to try to make the most of it and imagine how it should and used to be.
I agree…and it is a kick to see it in person. I feel lucky!
How amazing… I’d love to go there one day… just gorgeous
I hope you get to see it!
I’m thinking its a marketplace or a big temple or something… Then there was a war and those were the only things left no scrolls or anything (woohw! Say hi to my imagination!)
Sounds like a nice addition to all the theories!
then the aliens kidnapped all the people (no, that’s just weird) 😀
Such a fascinating spot…
It really is!
Now this is a place I am aching to see. I know what you mean about the variety of explanations as to its origins and their significance and such. For my part, I just want to feel the energy (or even its absence) emanating from the place. Did the place ‘speak’ to you?
I’m not sure if it spoke to me, but I had a peaceful feeling. For so many years I had wanted to see it and then when I was standing there I couldn’t believe that I was finally there. I stood there and stared and just enjoyed the moment. I think I will always remember that feeling.
It’s a bit of a shame it’s lost some of it’s atmosphere. I’ve actually never been although we did visit Bath and Wells last year – so we saw the Roman Baths and Pump Rooms.
Lynn 😀
It was fun to see and next time, if I go again and I have a feeling our visitors will want to go, I would like to see it at sunset. I bet it has a more magical feeling at sunset.
Its on my list too…hopefully next year! Love your photos!
I hope you get to see…next year isn’t that far away!